Sportsman&#39;s accessory



Nov. 16, 1965 B. s. GROSS 3,217,332

SPORTSMAN'S ACCESSORY Filed Feb. 3, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IF I G. 3

INVENTOR BUCKLEY S. GROSS ATTORNEY.

Nov. 16, 1965 Filed Feb. 3, 1965 B. s. GRoss 3,217,332

SPORTSMAN'S ACCESSORY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. BUCKLEY S. GROSS United States Patent O 3,217,332 SPORTSMAN S ACCESSORY Buckley S. Gross, 252 Pond St., Holbrook, Mass. Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 440,656 3 Claims. (Cl. 216) This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial Number 314,106, filed October 7, 1963, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a sportsmans accessory, and particularly to such an accessory which can be used for training in the proper handling of bowling balls and golf clubs and to generally improve the aim of the sportsman.

Accessories to improve the skill of the sportsman have been described in the past. Such prior art devices have, however, comprised chiefly Wrist-encircling devices to support and keep the wrist rigid. I have found, however, that merely to support the wrist does not give suflicient assistance to the bowler, particularly when he is using the small balls characteristic of candle-pin bowling. Also, such devices are of little use to the golfer. Further, most of such prior art devices are cumbersome and interfere with the proper manipulation required for good skill.

One object of this invention is to provide a sportsmans accessory which can be used in bowling, golf and the like to obtain proper control and aim.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an accessory which is simple to use.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from specification and claims which follow, and from the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of this invention in position on a bowlers hand.

FIG. 2 is an underneath view of the device detached from the bowlers hand with partial cut-away.

FIG. 3 is a section along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an underneath view of another embodiment of this invention detached from the bowlers hand, with partial cut-away.

The invention comprises generally a substantially rigid, fiat body member shaped and adapted for mounting so as to cover the back of the hand from a point between the second and third inward knuckles of the fingers and a point between the elbow and the wrist, with the thumb being substantially free. The body member has on its underside separate flexible guides for insertion of the four fingers. A strap is provided rearward of the wrist and adapted to encircle the hand with fastening means on the back of the body member. In its preferred form the body member is made of a rigid material, such as metal, covered at least on its underside with a resilient coating. In one form of this invention a forward or palm strap is provided running between the thumb and forefinger and encircling the palm to the back of the body member. In another form of this invention, the body member has cut-outs between the fingers so as to form a separate projection forward from the third inward knuckle for each finger.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-3 in the drawings, the body member 11 comprises a steel insert 12 covered with a resilient material such as leather 13. When mounted on the back of the hand 14 it extends from a point between the second and third inward knuckles of the four fingers 15, 16, 17 and 18 to a point midway between the elbow 19 and the wrist 20. On the underside of the device are elastic guide loops 21, 22, 23 and 24 for insertion of the fingers 15, 16, 17 and 18. The front strap 25 runs from the upper side of the body member, goes between the thumb and the forefinger of the hand across the palm and then back to a 3,217,332 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 fastening means 26 on the upper side of the body member. The rear strap 27 is shown encircling the hand behind the wrist to fastening means 28. There are separate projections 29-32 for each of the four fingers with the steel extending in each of these portions almost to the middle knuckle.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, body member 111 has steel insert 112 covered with resilient material 113. Elastic guide loops 121, 122, 123 and 124 are provided for insertion of the fingers. A rear strap 127 is shown for encircling the hand rearward of the wrist. This embodiment differs from the previous one in having no palm strap and in omitting the finger projections.

Although the illustrated embodiments show a stiff metal insert covered with a resilient material, the entire backing piece can be made of a stiff plastic. Additional straps can be added if desired. If a palm strap is used it should preferably be from the junction of the thumb and the forefinger across angularly backwards so as to not impede use of the palm.

This invention restricts the bending at the rear knuckle of each of the four fingers but permits the thumb to be free to grip a bowling ball or golf club at an angle of one oclock where the hand is down fully extended. I have found that this device keeps the fingers properly on the ball or club with the palm flat and materially aids in the accuracy of the throw of the ball or swing of the club. This invention is particularly adapted to the use of so-called small or candlepin balls but is also useful with large bowling balls.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been described in detail, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction set forth, since various changes in the form, portions and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or destroying any of the advantages contained in the same, heretofore described and defined in the following claims.

Thus, for example, the resilient material covering the rigid sheet on the underside can itself be a resilient sheet such as sponge rubber, or such a resilient sheet covered with a more flexible material, as, for example, leather.

I claim:

1. A sportsmans accessory comprising a substantially rigid, fiat body member shaped and adapted for mounting so as to cover the back of the hand from a point between the'rear two joints of each of the four fingers to a point between the wrist and elbow and leave the palm exposed and the thumb freely moveable; said body member having on its underside flexible guide members adapted for insertion of the four fingers; said body member having fastening means adapted to encircle the hand between the wrist and the elbow.

2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said body member comprises a rigid sheet covered with a resilient material on its underside.

3. The accessory of claim 1 wherein forward palmencircling fastening means are provided running over the junction of the thumb and forefinger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,140,107 5/1915 Brown 216 X 2,547,388 4/1951 Grifiin 220 2,794,638 6/1957 Risher et al. 273-54 2,924,458 2/1960 Barry 273'54 3,049,717 8/1962 Meyer 216 3,117,786 1/1964 Anderson 216 X JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SPORTSMAN''S ACCESSORY COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID, FLAT BODY MEMBER SHAPED AND ADPATED FOR MOUNTING SO AS TO COVER THE BACK OF THE HAND FROM A POINT BETWEEN THE REAR TWO JOINTS TO EACH OF THE FOUR FINGERS TO A POINT BETWEEN THE WRIST AND ELBOW AND LEAVE THE PALM EXPOSED AND THE THUMB FREELY MOVEABLE; SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING ON ITS UNDERSIDE FLEXIBLE GUIDE MEMBERS ADAPTED FOR INSERTION OF THE FOUR FINGERS; SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING FASTENING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE THE HAND BETWEEN THE WRIST AND THE ELBOW. 